Receptacle for live fish



June 18, 1957 M, GARLAND 2,795,888

RECEPTACLE FOR LIVE FISH File'd om.. 1, 1953 F/ci. 7

United States Patent@ RECEPTACLE FOR LIVE FISH Mather Garland, Mound, Minn., assignor to Garland Ventilator Corporation, Shakopee, Minn., a corporation of Illinois Application October 1, 1953, Serial No. 383,451

2 Claims. (Cl. 43-55) This linvention relates to live bags or baskets for fisher- -men adapted to be at least partially immersed in the water at the side of a boat and supported from the gunwale or any other vertical wall of the boat for reception of fish as they are caught and to facilitate maintenance of sh alive without requirement of time necessary to impale the same upon a Stringer.

It is an object of my invention to provide a highly eioient, economical live bag of the general class described, constructed from a previously unused material which will afford great flexibility to the bag or sack and may be obtained in very fine mesh to prevent injury to the mouth or fins of smaller sh and which is substantially indestructible, will not corrode or be damaged with long, extensive use and which, unlike present-day live bags made from string or cord netting, will protect live sh left therein overnight from attack by turtles and other natural enemies.

A further object is the provision of a live bag of the type described which, through an ingenious mounting bracket, may be hung over the side of a boat, immersed in the water, or may be swung inwardly to effectively close the upper end of the bag and which will further cause disposition of the bag frame at the open end at an inclined plane to facilitate yaccurate tossing or yintroduction of a sh therein.

Still another object is the provision in a live bag of the class described of a readily attachable mounting therefor which will positively and effectively secure the bag in operative position to boat gunwales varying substantially in size and cross-sectional shape.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like re-ference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my flexible live bag att-ached to the gunwale near the stern of a boat;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on a larger scale taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l with a greater portion of the flexible bag or basket and its supporting frame broken away, the dotted lines indicating the positioning of certain of the parts when the upper end of the bag and its frame is swung inwardly into the boat with the lower end of the bag st-ill immerged in the water;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view on an enlarged scale showing the particular construction and weaving :of a plastic netting which is preferred in the construction of the bag proper;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary vertical sections taken similarly to the section in Fig. 2, showing the Versatility of the eective clamping function of my improved attachment bracket to boat gunwales of conventional types which vary in cross-sectional shape;

Fig. 6 is -a fragmentary plan view of the device shown ICC in Fig. 2, most of the flexible bag and 4its frame being broken away and Fig. 7 is a -detail side elevation showing another form of gunwale-engaging jaw.

In the embodiment illustrated, the flexible bag B is supported at a hemmed upper edge upon an open substantially rigid frame 10 which may conveniently be constructed of light metal rod or tubular material. While frame 10 may be of any general annular shape, I prefer to bend the continuous rod or frame material into a trapezoidal shape with the longer stretch or base of the trapezoid disposed outwardly when the live bag is in use. An integral continuous ro-d member is preferably utilized for my frame with the end portions bent nearly perpendicularly to the adjoining side portions providing a bifurcated shank 10a which extends medially and laterally of the adjacent frame side.

I provide a simple and efficient attachment bracket indicated as an entirety by the numeral 11 which is of inverted U-shape having ldepending outer and inner integr-al arms 11a and 11b respectively. One of said arms, preferably the outer arm 11a, is peculiarly bent or die-formed to constitute a highly eflicient clamping jaw. The medial portion of arm 11a is angularly bent, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide a central V-shaped gripping portion 11b, off-set from vertical clamping surfaces -11c and 11d which adjoin. The inner arm 11b of my bracket is preferably doubled on itself, as shown in Fig. 2, and the doubled and superimposed plies of `the plate material are centrally tapped to receive an elongated clamp adjustment screw 12a, to the inner end of which a clamping plate 12 is rotatably secured, said clam-ping plate 12 being identically shaped with the clamping jaw formed by arm 11a including the `angled off-set clamping element 12b and the adjoining flat vertical clamping surfaces 12C and 12d respectively. To rotatably attach the inner end of clamp screw 12a to the clamping member 12, an enlarged shoulder 12e may be provided on member 12 at a point inwardly from fthe inner extremity of the screw and the inner extremity may be swedged against the inner angle surface of Ithe clamping element 12. The bifurcated shank 10a of the bag frame is pivotally mounted upon the upper medial portion of attachment bracket 11 for swinging of the frame and bag on a horizontal axis disposed transversely of the bracket and substantially parallel to the gunwale of the boat. To this end, the terminal portions of shank 10a are flattened (see Fig. 6) and are concentrically drilled to receive a pivot bolt 13 which is received in a pair of spaced loops 14a integrally formed as shown as a part of a combined mounting and abutment member 14. Member 14 as shown, comprises a metal plate, die-formed to provide the ears 14a and recessed to accommodate the extremities of the bifurcated shank 10a. The forwardly extending portion of the plate 14 is heavily beaded or folded to form the upstanding transverse abutment 14b which as shown in Fig. 2, engages the intermediate portion of shank 10a to limit downward swinging thereof and to hold the shank and the entire bag frame 10 in a general plane inclined outwardly and upwardly `from =the horizontal at an angle within a range of from 8 to l5 degrees preferably. The plate 14 may be suitably -aflixed to the top of attachment bracket 11 as by rivets 15.

The specific construction of the flexible bag or net which l prefer to use is thought to be novel and to provide new and improved results over any net or mesh construction previously used for similar or analogous purposes. l prefer to construct my bag from highly flexible, non-corrosive and substantially indestructible plastic netting of preferably relatively fine mesh but of a peculiar weave in that the warp threads or sections of .merced in the water at the side of the boat. .zoidalshape of frame 1f) plus the angulation of the 'general plane of the frame relative to the horizont-al fa` the interstices or mesh of the netting are of a different length than the Woof sections of the mesh. A ratio of l1 to 14 is found highly satisfactory although variances therefrom all the way from 2 to 3 Vupto 7 to 8vare found satisfactory. I have discovered that by having such relationship of the spacing of the wires or strands woven into this netting (oblong shaped mesh), much greater exibilityfor folding, compacting and shirring of the material 4is made possible than in the conventional plastic screen,

wherein the interstices or mesh are of square shape rather than the `oblong shape of my preferred netting as illustrated in Fig. 3. I have also found -that it is desirable even for live bags for large fish to use the plastic netting of v v Ya comparatively fine mesh within a range of say between ll xA 14 for the finest mesh desirable to 4 x 5 (wires to the -finch) for the coarsest net utilized. Vinyl and other plas for the spacing of the horizontal threads run from five to fourteen to the inch while the vertical threads run from four to eleven to the inch.

The bag may be constructed of any suitable pattern laid out upon -a flat sheet of the netting, the longitudinal edges of an elongated strip or sheet of netting being suitably Y reinforced and stitched together by strong plastic threads and the lower end also closed by such threads. The upper marginal edge of the bag is `hemmed by plastic threads and the bag thereafter turned inside out and the doubled or hemmed edge is inserted upon the trapezoid portion of frame 10.

One of the important features of my improved construction is the ef'icient and universal clamping attachment to the gunwales of all conventional boats commercially sold yat this time. In Fig. 2 the positive attachment of my device is illustrated on the conventional gunwale of many wooden boats wherein parallel, substantially vertical surfaces S are provided at the longitudinal sides of the grunwale rail. Here, it will be noticed that the flat vertical surfaces lic and 11d of jaw 11a firmly abut the outer surface S while the similar vertical surfaces 12e and 12D of the movable jaw 12 firmly abut the inner vertical surface S of the rail. The cooperation of these clamping jaws prevents any twisting or oscillation of the attachment mounting 11 and of course, of the bag lB and frame when the device is mounted upon the boat.

In Fig. 4, the application of my improved bracket and clamping means is illustrated on the gunwale or rail of a conventional type yof metal boat, the diverging and widely `angled surfaces of the jaw elements 11b and 12b cooperating to very securely clamp the round, cross sectional contour of the rail. In Fig. 5 the efficient clamping operation of my -device upon still another type of metal boat is shown wherein the longitudinal side edges of thegunwale are defined by rectangular edges.

In use when fishing, the attachment bracket is securely clamped upon the gunwale Vof the boat, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings with the top strap or plate Vof? the bracket traversing the top of the gunwale and with the small mounting plate 14 extending outwardly. The bag manipulated by frame 1f) is swung outwardly and depends closely alongside'of the boat and Iis of such a length (usually from 3 to A. feet) so that the bottom portion of the bag, to a depth of from l to 2 feet, is im- The trape- 4 f cilitates accuratetossing of a fish into the bag after its release from the hook. The inclined relationship of the bag during fishing is effected through the relationship of the attachment pivot 13 with the abutment 14b by engaging and supporting the intermediate portion of the shank 10a of the frame.

The bag or basket presents a smooth, slippery exterior surface throughout and in fact, the individual strands of the netting made from vinyl or other plastic, are of such slippery nature, that dirt, weeds and other matter v.may be very readily washed therefrom and'will not adhere. The peculiar fabricating of the netting producing the oblong shaped mesh materially facilitates the drapingand folding of the bag, adding fiexibility to the over-all structure.

In Fie. 2, the dotted lines illustrate the position of the frame and bag when the bag is swung inwardly with the top portion folded over the gunwale of the boat and securely closing the otherwise open end of the bag. It is desirable to swing the bag to this position when fishing is over and it is desired to prevent jumping of the fish in shallow water, from the bag. Likewise, my device with the bag closed at the upper end may be readily attached to horizontal planking or a 2 x 4 or the like on a dock, with the frame folded and thereby folding and closing the upper portion or mouth `of the bag to maintain the captive fish in water over night or for a period of some days. In this connection, exhaustive tests in lake regions where turtles, including snapping turtlesare prevalent as well as muskrats, it has been found that these predatory animals will not, and apparently cannot bite through or disintegrate the plastic bag. In comparative tests with conventional live bags made from cord and even tarred cord, snapping turtles and muskrats have chewed and disintegrated the mesh and have eaten the fish contained in such bags.

In Fig. 7, an alternative form of clamping jaw is illustrated indicated as an entirety by the numeral 16. The jaw has planar vertically aligned clamping surfaces 16 a and 1Gb and an outwardly offset and recessed clamping portion 16a` of concave, semi-circular shape. It will, of course, be understood that the cooperating clamping jaw yaffixed to the depending outer arm of the attachment bracket will be similarly shaped to the clamping jaw 16 and opposed thereto. The jaw 16 is shown as rotatably attached to a clamp screw 1'7. The structure of the jaws of Fig. 7 provides all of the advantages of the peculiar jaws utilized in the form of my invention previously described but have even a more positive clamping grip for gunwales or beads of circular cross section.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a highly efficient, economical live bag constructed from previously unused material to afford adequate fiexibility, durability and a slippery exterior. It will further be seen that with my device the live bag maybe quickly andpositively attached to the gunwales or stern piece of boats varying in construction vand design. It will further be seen that with my construction including the peculiar shape of the net supporting frame 10 and its cooperation with the mounting and abutment element, that the open end of the netting is held in a position to most effectively Areceive a fish when tossed therein.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be'made Iin the form, details, arrangement and proportions 'of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A bag for live fish comprising a substantially rigid, open frame having a shank portion projecting centrally a-nd -laterally from one side thereof, an attachment bracket having a top element provided with pivot-receiving means, clamping means below the top element of said mounting bracket for engaging opposite sides of a boat gunwale, a pivot swingably connecting the extremity of said shank portion with saidmounting bracket to permit swinging of said frame' outwardly in a beyond-gunwale position and aromas inwardly into a position where said frame approaches a horizontal relation, said top element constituting a stop for said frame when swung to its inward position, and a bag constructed of ilexible netting and supported and distended at its upper end by said frame, said bag upon inner swinging of said frame folding to a closed position.

2. A bag for live fish comprising a substantially rigid open bag-frame having a shank portion projecting centrally from one side thereof, an attachment bracket of inverted U-shape providing a pair of widely spaced, depending arms, one of said arms being formed to constitute a clamping jaw, the other of said bracket arms being tapped horizontally for receiving a clamping screw, a clamping screw threadedly engaging -said second arm and having at its inner end a second jaw rotatably connected with said screw, said jaws having recessed, opposing portions adapted to receive in clamping relation boat gunwales of varying shapes, means on the top of said bracket for swingably connecting the end of said frame shank porti-on therewith and including upstanding pivot ears for stradling said shank portion, and a pivot pin secured in said upstanding ears and passing through said shank portion, said bracket having an upstanding abutment ledge disposed forwardly of said ears for mai-ntenance of said shank portion and bag frame at an inolination to the horizontal when said frame is swung forwardly, and ran elongated bag having an open, upper end disposed upon and distended by said frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,433 Rendall Dec. 25, 1900 746,188 Sonsthagen Dec. 8, 1903 972,870 Kandlbin-der Oct. 18, 1910 1,756,942 Eddy May 6, 1930 2,081,797 Di Figlia May 25, 1937 2,161,766 Rugeley June 6, 1939 2,384,101 Kruse Sept. 4, 1945 2,511,644 Liss June 13, 1950 2,544,223 Ellis Mar. 6, 1951 2,564,513 Terwilliger Aug. 14, 1951 2,590,586 Thompson c Mar. 25, 1952 2,591,891 Thorsen Apr. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,010,872 France Mar. 26, 1952 

